Burton Atherton football finishes 4-5, but program is moving in right direction

Atherton football coach Ed Stermer is proud of the way his team bounced back after a rough start to the season. (File)

BURTON, Michigan — Atherton was shooting for the state football playoffs this season after notching its first winning record since 1987 with 2010’s mark of 5-4.

A few bounces of the ball in a favorable direction, a few less penalties and perhaps a little luck would have done that for Wolverines coach Ed Stermer’s club in 2011.But the ball didn’t bounce the Wolverines’ way when they needed it to. Penalties put a damper on Atherton’s season-opener during — a 22-20 loss to Webberville — and Atherton stumbled to a 1-3 start.

However, despite those setbacks, Stermer’s team, led by players such as senior captain quarterback Joe Williams, refused to give in, finishing the year 4-5 after a “typical” losing season was on the horizon.

And although Atherton was two wins away from securing its first playoff berth since 1975, it did string together nine victories over the past two years — the most since the 14 it compiled in 1974-75.

“We never gave up fighting,” said Stermer. “I think a lot of teams would have given up. This team fought the whole season. We told them after we were 1-3 that this year boiled down to a five-game season. They tried to get in the playoffs. They came darn close.”

A trying gauntlet of Genesee-Area Conference Blue Division opponents didn’t make life any easier for Atherton, which dropped games to perennial contenders Byron and New Lothrop, and a one-loss Bendle team. Each of those three teams made the playoffs this season and handed the Wolverines lopsided losses.

“Those three teams are solid,” said Stermer. “They have good athletes on both sides of the ball. You’re going to run into teams like that. You have to beat them if you want to be a playoff team. I hope they go a long way. They’re going to win more than one game in the playoffs, I’m pretty sure.”

Williams said he has no regrets on how the year ended. He would have liked to make the playoffs — it was his goal prior to the season’s start — because he missed the majority of 2010 due to a broken leg suffered in the season-opener to Webberville.

“(This year) wasn’t horrible,” he said. “I mean, 4-5, that’s all right for Atherton. Playoffs were the goal, but we fell short. There’s nothing we can do but bounce back and hope the squad gets it done next year. … You don’t always get what you want sometime, but that’s a part of life.”

Like Stermer, Williams was pleased with the team’s resiliency after starting 1-3.

“I think that showed a lot of heart,” said Williams, who helped the Wolverines rattle off three straight wins, finishing their remaining schedule with a 3-2 record. “We were able to bounce back and beat teams we haven’t beaten in awhile.”

However, despite a somewhat disappointing finish to the fall, the crowning moment of the senior captain’s prep football career came in a 22-14 win over Genesee, a team Atherton hadn’t knocked off since its 34-0 victory in 1968.

“It felt good,” he said. “We came to play. It was a total team effort and the highlight of my high school career.”

Days of 1-8 and 2-7 hopefully are behind the program, says Williams. With Stermer at the helm and increasing participation, the Wolverines should become more competitive if players continue to “buy-in” to the changing culture at Atherton.

“I believe (the program) is on the rise, as far as the coaches, players and attitude of the school (toward football),” said Williams. “I believe, in the future, there should be more winning seasons.”